DA welcomes Waterkloof duo re-arrest
The video footage of two members of the infamous Waterkloof Four drinking alcohol and partying in their cell at the Kgosi Mampuru prison, in Pretoria that surfaced this weekend is yet another stark illustration of the corruption allowed to run rampant in our prisons.
Frikkie du Preez and Christoff Becker were rightfully re-arrested this weekend just days after being released on parole and are being held pending the outcome of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) investigation. We welcome the DCS's swift action and look forward to the outcome of their investigation.
I will be writing to Correctional Services Regional Commissioner of Gauteng, Zach Modise, and the Correctional Services Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Vincent Smith, in order to ascertain more details regarding this incident and its subsequent investigation.
Preferential treatment and contraband are a continued problems in our correctional centres and we need higher security to combat them. It is high time that the DCS takes a tougher stance on correctional centre security and corruption.
In the video, Du Preez and Becker's cell appears to have alcohol, a cellphone and even a computer. What's most disturbing is that the duo claim that "Francois", a suspected warder, provided them with some the contraband which is simply unacceptable.
The removal of corrupt officials from the Department should be a top priority. The disciplinary system must be more effective and efficient, ensuring that disciplinary procedures are conducted rapidly as there is no immediate consequence for suspended officials at present and some remain on suspension for months, even years.
Furthermore, there needs to be a standard operating procedure approach with regards to security searches across all correctional centres. Correctional centres such as Kokstad Maximum C and Mangaung have already set a fine template and ensured that smuggling is virtually non-existent because every person that enters those correctional facilities is thoroughly searched every time they enter the facility.
Until we eliminate corruption in our correctional centres and focus on rehabilitation, prisons will increasingly become revolving doors for offenders.
Statement issued by James Selfe MP, DA Shadow Minister of Correctional Services, February 17 2014
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